Coaches

John Tucker

Head Coach

John Tucker was named head coach of the Boston Cannons in June 2013. Tucker joined the Cannons coaching staff prior to the 2013 as an assistant coach.

As a coach, he has led a number of teams to championships, including a total of eight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships: four with the Severn School in Annapolis, Maryland, three with the Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland and one with Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland.

In the National Lacrosse League, Tucker coached the Baltimore Thunder from 1997 to 1999. He also was the coach of the Pittsburgh CrosseFire for their one year of existence in 2000.

Tucker served as Head Coach of the Los Angeles Riptide of Major League Lacrosse from 2006 to 2008 compiling a 22-14 record. Following the 2007 MLL season he was awarded the Major League Lacrosse Coach of the Year Award. In 2009, Tucker was named the Head Coach of the Washington Bayhawks, but was relieved following the team's purchase by current owner Brendan Kelly.

Tucker began his playing career in eighth grade, joining the junior league team at Archbishop Curley High School under Coach Joe D'Adamo. He was a freshman and sophomore on the team during the school's 1976 and 1977 championship seasons, and he graduated from Curley in 1979. As a collegiate player, Tucker was a member on a number of winning teams. He played on the undefeated Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays team that won the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1984. In international competition Tucker played for Team USA in winning three gold medals at the World Lacrosse Championships in 1986, 1990, 1994. Tucker captained the 1990 and 1994 teams. In addition, Tucker won two championships with the Philadelphia Wings of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1989 and 1990. Tucker played at the amateur level for the storied Mount Washington Lacrosse Club.

Tom Slate

Assistant Coach

Tom Slate was hired by the Cannons in December of 2013 to serve as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator.

Slate is a highly accomplished lacrosse player and coach who also has exceptional skills as a teacher, both for lacrosse and strength & conditioning programs spanning all sports, but focusing on lacrosse.

* President & CEO Lacrosse Evolution

* Former professional indoor player for the Philadelphia Wings (NLL) - Winning 2 NLL Championships in 1998 & 2001.

* Former player of the Baltimore Bayhawks (now Chesapeake Bayhawks, MLL)

* First Team High School All-American, and Captain of the 1992 Springfield High School Lacrosse (PA) State Champions that went 24-0.

* Graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education. He is a Fitness Specialist and Certified Speed and Strength Coach.

* Assistant Coach of the Philadelphia Barrage (MLL) from 05-07 and helped lead the Barrage to 2 MLL Championships in '06 and '07, the first MLL team to win back to back championships.

* Former Head Coach of Downingtown East High School for 7 seasons. Directed his 2007 team to winning the school's first ever State Championship. In doing so, became the first person to win a PA Lacrosse State Championship as both a player and head coach.

* Former Head Coach of the San Francisco Dragons and Denver Outlaws.

Jim Murphy

Assistant Coach

The 2015 season is Jim Murphy’s 13th as part of the Boston Cannons coaching staff.

Murphy is involved in all aspects of the Cannons coaching staff, including draft and trade decisions. His primary responsibilities are working with Cannons goalies and face-off midfielders.

Murphy comes to the Cannons from Bentley College, where he has served as Head Coach since 1993. He is a three-time Northeast-10 Coach of the Year award winner, and has led the Falcons to four league championships. Under Murphy, from 1994-1998, Bentley was 31-2 in league play. He also serves as Operations Manager of Athletics at Bentley.

Murphy played college lacrosse at Brandeis University and Plymouth State College. He also played club lacrosse for the Brine Club team in 1996. A native of Billerica, MA, he played four years of lacrosse at Billerica High School and he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

Murphy has two brothers, Sean and Colin, who also played lacrosse for Billerica High. Sean went on to play at Plymouth State College and is now an NCAA Lacrosse Official. He also has a sister named Kim, and his parents are Jim and Margaret. His father Jim, shoots the cannon at Harvard Stadium during Cannons games.

Murphy currently resides in Billerica with his wife Kelly Jo. In addition to lacrosse he enjoys photography, backpacking and scuba diving.

Andrew Pons

Assistant Coach

Andrew Pons joined the Cannons coaching staff in December 2013. Andy brings over 20 years of lacrosse experience with him to the Cannons. Andy is currently the National Team Director for the Dallas based, Coast to Coast Lacrosse Program which serves over 1,200 in Dallas, Raleigh, Richmond, Atlanta and Austin, TX. Andy also co-founded Futures Lacrosse last year adn continues to run the Laxtensity Training Program for over 200 girls in the Atlanta area. He has also spent time coaching the Maryland Lacrosse Club and Baltimore Crabs. Andy graduated in 1998 after a successful 3 sport career at McDaniel College. With a degree in Physical Eduacation, Andy coached tought PE for over 10 years.

Andy has three children. His oldest, Teddy, is a senior at The University of South Carolina after playing basketball and lacrosse at Loyola Bakersfield.His youngest son Mac, plays for the University of Maryland.Andy also has a daughter in the eighth grade at Maryville Prep outside of Baltimore. He marries his highs chool sweetheart, Chrissy, and they have been married for 23 years.

Ed McCarthy

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Ed McCarthy, a teacher and coach for over twenty-fine years, is appreciative of a great career educating student-athletes and working alongside great coaches.

An all-star football and lacrosse player at Newton High School, as well as an Honor Student, he then went on to work hard and acheive success as an All-New-England midfielder and Presidential Scholar at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

After college, Ed has continued to educate. With a masters degree from the University of Massachusetts, Midlebury College , and Columbia University, Ed has served schools as a football, wrestling and lacrosse coach and as an English Department Head and presently as a Writing Program Director. He has coached lacrosse at Newton North, The Fessendon School, and most memorably he served as the Defensive Coordinator at the national powerhouse St. Paul's School in the MIAA Conference in Baltimore.

He is presently in his third yearas the Volunteer Assistant Coach of the Boston Cannons.

Ed is most proud of his work with non-profits, serving on the Board of MetroLacrosse and being a fervent supporter of Boston Youth Wrestling and of the Cannonball Foundation.On the side, Ed has spoken and written to national and international audienceson the topic of Boys and Education. A family man, he is a grateful husband and father of two boys - Eamon, 7, and Liam, 5.

Michael Fox

Head Equipment Manager

Mike Fox is back for his 4th season with the Cannons as the Head Equipment Manager.

His duties include ordering and maintaining the gear and apparel that the team will wear this coming season.

A veteran of 34 years, he had previously worked in the MLL with the Philadelphia Barrage from 2004-2008 as well as the Philadelphia Summer Showcase, the precursor to the league beginnings.

In addition, he has been with the Philadelphia Wings Indoor lacrosse Team since the 2005 season and has served the US Indoor team for the World games in both Halifax in 2007 and Prague 2011 as the Equipment Manager.

For 13 years he helped run the successful youth program, Ashbee lacrosse in the Philadelphia suburbs and he has run numerous sports safety clinics addressing audiences of youth through college professionals. He has also been an instructor at the Athletic Equipment Managers Association convention, and with the National Youth Sports Coaches Association, certifying youth coaches in several sports.

His experience on staff in football with the Philadelphia Bell, WFL; The Philadelphia Stars and Pittsburgh Maulers, USFL; the Philadelphia Eagles, NFL; and the Philadelphia Soul, AFL and 30 years with Temple University Football helped him land the position of Head Equipment Manager for 3 sports movies; Invincible,We Are Marshall and The Game Plan. He also helped out with Crooked Arrow, a film which his son was the Equipment Manager.

He was also chosen to be an adult staff member for the USA Luge Development team in 2000.

The son of a former professional basketball player, he wrestled, coached baseball and was the Athletic Trainer at Penn State Abington campus, then played football at Temple University, graduating from both with degrees in Recreation and Sports Administration.

Michael lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife, Mary, and has three sons, Dan, Mike Jr. and Chris.